Airport revenues jump by $10M

With revenues soaring, thanks in large part to Skybus, the St. Augustine St. Johns County Airport Authority had plenty to be happy about at its first meeting of the new year Monday afternoon.

The first order of business, however, was procedural, as the five-member group, made up of Wayne George, Randy Brunson, Jack Gorman, Suzanne Green and Kelly Barrera, voted for new officers.

Green, who served as chairman in 2007, was re-elected to that office by a margin of 3-2. Gorman was voted 4-1 as the new secretary-treasurer, taking over the role handled by Barrera last year.

"I'm very excited by this year," Green said. "We have a lot to do."

Green acknowledged that the Authority will face many challenges this year, not the least of which is St. Johns County trying to take it over. For several years, the Authority has said it would take the airport off the county tax rolls, but, so far, it has not happened.

Brunson, who was elected to the board in 2004, ran on that platform.

Overwhelmingly, however, the meeting was a happy one, with a presentation of the airport's annual audit by Harold Monk of the CPA firm of Davis, Monk and Company that reflected both good stewardship and fiscal progress.

"It's always a pleasure to bring a report that is good," Monk told the group. "You had a big year, and next year is going to be even bigger."

Monk reported that the airport's capital assets were up by about $10 million in 2007. The deficit was shrinking, he said, and likely to be gone by 2009.

Airport Executive Director Ed Wuellner gave the board an update on new hangar facility construction, which he said is moving along well.

"It's looking very good," Wuellner said. "I'm very pleased with the progress."

Wuellner also reported that Skybus, which brought the first real commercial air service to the airport in July, has revitalized and boosted operations without creating any problems.

He specifically noted that, even with three flights per day, there have been no noise complaints, thanks to the Airbus A319 jets that Skybus uses.

The A319s are revered by noise-sensitive airports because they are significantly quieter than most commercial jets.

Since the beginning of December, the airport also has been allowing Skybus to bring in night flights.

"We've been operating at night for about a month without any problems," said George. "That's encouraging."

Skybus added a fourth daily flight today, adding Greensboro, N.C., as a new direct destination for travelers flying out of St. Augustine.

Wuellner said that Skybus has advised him that the airline expects to have six flights per day here by the end of the year.